The French Riviera is the coastline of the southeast corner of France. This region is known around the world for its glamour and beauty. The fabulous towns of Cannes and Saint Tropez are situated here. But we think that the true beauty of this part of France lies in the nature. One of the most stunning places to visit for a day is La Mala Natural Reserve. This small bay is surrounded by high rocky cliffs and a palette of blue waters: from deep blue to turquoise. Discover La Mala Beach, the hidden treasure of the French Riviera!

The Scenic Path to La Mala

La Mala is accessible by train or bus from either Nice or Monaco. However there is a longer, yet astonishing way to get to this beautiful beach.

The incredibly scenic path starts in Cap d’Ail’s beach La Marquet (the entrance to the path). It goes for about 3 km right by the sea and you’ll enjoy spectacular views on the way. You can also jump in the water at any of beautiful small beaches (those are however not surveilled).

Arriving at La Mala you will be blown away by the beauty of the small beach. There are 2 restaurants where you can have a delicious lunch as well as rent sun beds and umbrellas for the day.

↬ TIP : Reserve the sun beds in advance in the high season (from June to August).

There is also public beach parts where you can lie down freely. The first public space is “sandy” (ok pebbly if that’s a word), while the space to the right is covered with small and big rocks.

A fun activity in La Mala is to paddle board (20 EUR for 1 h), kayaking (20 EUR for 1 h) and snorkelling.

Getting there

We highly suggest you to arrive in Marquet Beach and take the scenic path.

Alternatively you can take a bus 100 until here and then walk the path down to the beach.

Another option is arriving by train to Gare de Cap d’Ail and walk to the beach from there. Like this, you’ll still be able to enjoy the most picturesque part of the little hike on the coastal part. If you open the google link above, it will show you that from the train station you can go below the tracks to the road, and then reach the Gramaglia beach. The stairs aren’t really shown on google maps, but they are there. Once you go down the stairs, you’ll reach the coastal path that will guide you straight to la Mala all the way at the end (10min walk +/-).

What to bring

• Hat and biodegradable sun screen.
• Water shoes and snorkelling gear.
• Towels and bikini.
• Water in reusable bottle (there is fountain where you can refill your bottle for free).
• Cash to rent paddle board or kayak.

If you are planning a visit to the French Riviera or la Mala Beach, you should also check our Monaco Guide and find all you need to know about Hamilton’s hometown ?